Associate Director of Programs & Leadership

The Pat Tillman Foundation (PTF) unites and empowers remarkable military veterans and spouses as the next generation of public and private sector leaders committed to service beyond self. Inspired by Pat Tillman, who proudly put his NFL career with the Arizona Cardinals on hold to serve his country, family, and friends, the Pat Tillman Foundation was formed following Pat’s death in April 2004 while serving with the 75th Ranger Regiment in Afghanistan. Over the last 20 years, the Pat Tillman Foundation has supported nearly 1,000 Tillman Scholars as they’ve furthered their education and increased their professional impact in the world.

PTF seeks a dynamic and experienced Associate Director to join our Programs and Leadership team. This crucial leadership role is focused on developing our talented team members while contributing significantly to the strategic direction and innovative execution of programs that support our Tillman Scholars. Reporting to the Director of Programs and Leadership and managing a dedicated team of individual contributors, you will be instrumental in shaping the future of PTF's programming and maximizing our impact.

Your Role and Environment:

As a key people developer and team leader, you will operate with significant autonomy, acting as a strategic thought partner to the Director. We seek an innovative and creative individual capable of thriving in a fast-paced, ever-evolving, and highly collaborative environment. In this capacity, you will also serve as an essential spokesperson and ambassador for PTF and the remarkable community we serve.

Who You Are:

• Empowering People Manager & Team Builder: You are passionate about developing talent and excel at mentoring individual contributors, guiding their growth, and fostering a high-performing, collaborative, and positive team environment within the Programs & Leadership function.

• Experienced Program & Learning Strategist: You bring significant experience in leadership development, program design, organizational development, or related fields, with a strong foundation in adult learning principles and instructional design needed to shape impactful initiatives for Tillman Scholars.

• Strategic Thinker & Innovative Problem-Solver: You possess a strategic mindset to contribute meaningfully to programmatic strategy development, anticipate future needs, and approach challenges creatively to find practical, innovative solutions that drive program success.

• Results-Oriented & Detail-Driven Executor: While being strategic, you maintain meticulous attention to detail, ensuring that program plans are translated into well-executed initiatives that consistently meet objectives and uphold high standards of quality.

• Exceptional Communicator & Relationship Builder: You leverage outstanding communication and interpersonal skills to effectively engage, influence, and build strong collaborative relationships with diverse audiences, including your direct reports, Tillman Scholars, partners, donors, and Foundation leadership.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and develop the Programs & Leadership Team: Directly manage, mentor, and develop individual contributors, fostering a culture of high performance, collaboration, continuous learning, and accountability while guiding team members toward achieving program and individual goals.

• Shape Program Strategy & Develop Curriculum: Collaborate closely with the Director of Programs and Leadership to contribute to the strategic direction of Scholar programs; design, develop, and refine engaging, high-impact curriculum and content aligned with the Foundation's mission and Scholar needs.

• Oversee Program Implementation & Manage Key Projects: Lead the successful execution of complex program initiatives and manage key projects from planning through completion, establishing clear objectives, overseeing timelines, monitoring progress, and ensuring delivery within scope and budget guidelines.

• Drive Program Evaluation & Continuous Improvement: Implement and manage robust program evaluation processes, analyzing data and feedback to assess effectiveness, identify opportunities for enhancement, and champion continuous improvement across all assigned programs.

• Cultivate Strategic Partnerships & Stakeholder Relations: Build, nurture, and maintain productive relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, including Tillman Scholars, program delivery partners, donors, community organizations, and colleagues across the Foundation.

• Manage Program Resources Effectively: Oversee assigned program budgets and resources, ensuring efficient allocation, tracking, and reporting under the guidance of the Director to maximize program impact and achieve strategic objectives.

• Champion Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work proactively and effectively with leaders and teams across the Foundation (e.g., Development, Marketing, Operations) to ensure program alignment, leverage resources, facilitate seamless delivery, and support overall organizational goals.

What We Offer:

• Competitive salary and benefits package.

• This is an opportunity to work with a dynamic team dedicated to empowering veterans and military spouses.

• Professional development and growth opportunities.

• Flexible work environment. This role will be hybrid and based out of our office at 180 N. La Salle St. We are in the office three days a week (Tuesday - Thursday) from 9 to 5.  

• This role can be filled remotely, with 25% travel for office visits.

This position will report to the Director of Programs and Leadership and is hybrid based in Chicago, IL, but we are open to remote candidates as well - with up to 25% travel.  If you are a motivated and creative individual who shares our passion for serving veterans and military spouses, please submit your application. 

Based in Chicago, the Pat Tillman Foundation offers competitive salaries, comprehensive benefits, and a collaborative and welcoming environment where passionate and curious thinkers will thrive.